A battery power supply to power an intermittently operating load includes a voltage downconverter configured to be serially connected to a battery and to output a voltage VOUT smaller than a battery voltage V1. A current limiter is serially connected to the voltage downconverter and is configured to provide a voltage drop in a current limiting mode, and to substantially provide a short circuit in a non-current limiting mode. The battery power supply additionally includes a capacitor tank serially connected to the current limiter for providing a voltage V2 to the load, and configured to be charged to a voltage VCT which is less than VOUT when the current limiter is switched to the current limiting mode. The capacitor tank is additionally configured to be charged to a voltage which is substantially equal to VOUT when the current limiter is switched to the non-current limiting mode.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
2. The battery power supply according to claim 1, wherein the controller switches the voltage downconverter from the off disabled state to the en enabled state responsive to receiving a signal from a signal source external to the battery power supply.
3. The battery power supply according to claim 1, wherein the controller switches the shunt to the closed state upon sensing that the capacitor tank voltage is equal to or exceeds a threshold voltage of VICL, which is less than 90% of the output voltage of the voltage downconverter.
4. The battery power supply according to claim 1, wherein said controller is further operative to enable the load via the third control signal only after waiting a predetermined period of time that corresponds to a relaxation period associated with the battery to further aid in maximizing battery capacity utilization and battery life.
5. The battery power supply according to claim 1, wherein the controller enables the load responsive to the voltage VCT of the capacitor tank being charged to a voltage substantially equal to V2.
6. The battery power supply according to claim 1, further comprising a voltage regulator to supply regulated power to the controller.
7. The battery power supply according to claim 1, wherein the battery comprises a non-flat discharge curve and a relatively high internal resistance compared to batteries comprising flat discharge curves.
8. The battery power supply according to claim 1, wherein the battery comprises one or more alkaline batteries, one or more non-lithium batteries, one or more lithium batteries, or one or more lithium-ion batteries.
9. The battery power supply according to claim 1, wherein the battery comprises a flat discharge curve and a relatively low internal resistance.
10. The battery power supply according to claim 1, wherein the battery is integral to the battery power supply.
11. The battery power supply according to claim 1, wherein the intermittently operating load comprises an internet of things (IOT) device.
12. The battery power supply according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined voltage is approximately 90% of the output of said voltage downconverter.
13. The battery power supply according to claim 1, wherein the controller stores the value of the capacitor tank voltage upon sensing that the capacitor tank voltage is less than a threshold voltage VICL.
14. The battery power supply according to claim 13, wherein the the capacitor tank voltage is substantially equal to V2 following a period of time after the shunt is placed in the closed state.
16. The method according to claim 15, comprising switching the shunt to the closed state upon sensing that the capacitor tank voltage is equal to or exceeds a threshold voltage VICL less than 90% of the output voltage of the voltage downconverter.
17. The method according to claim 15, comprising measuring the battery voltage V1.
18. The method according to claim 15, comprising measuring the capacitor tank voltage VCT.
19. The method according to claim 15, comprising storing the value of the capacitor tank voltage when the capacitor tank voltage is less than a threshold voltage VICL.
20. The method according to claim 15, comprising enabling the load responsive to the voltage VCT of the capacitor tank being charged to a voltage substantially equal to V2.
21. The method according to claim 15, comprising switching the voltage downconverter from the disabled state to the enabled state responsive to receiving a signal from a signal source external to the battery power supply.
22. The method according to claim 15, further comprising enabling the load via the third control signal only after waiting a predetermined period of time that corresponds to a relaxation period associated with the battery to further aid in maximizing battery capacity utilization and battery life.
24. The device according to claim 23, wherein the battery comprises a non-flat discharge curve and a relatively high internal resistance compared to batteries comprising flat discharge curves.
25. The device according to claim 23, wherein the battery comprises a flat discharge curve and a relatively low internal resistance.
26. The device according to claim 23, wherein the the capacitor tank voltage is substantially equal to V2 following a period of time after the shunt is switched to the closed state.
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February 9, 2023
October 1, 2024
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